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Due to Cole Miller’s long standing relationship with American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, some people may forget that the UFC vet isn’t from the “Sunshine State.” In fact, the 29 year-old featherweight is from Augusta, Georgia, and as a result, he’s pretty excited about his next fight’s location. The reason being is that Miller will return to his home state next month to battle Sam Sicilia at UFC Fight Night 35, which will go down January 15th at the Gwinnett Arena in Duluth.

“Oh yeah; I’m pumped,” Miller said on Full Contact Fighter Radio recently, while discussing the fact he’ll fight in Georgia next. “This is going to be the first time that I’ve gotten to fight at home since 2006, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, is go to back home and fight. Since the UFC started going into Atlanta. I just haven’t made the previous two cards, unfortunately. One was due to injury and one, I just didn’t make it on the card. I had fought the month before in Australia so I wasn’t able to make it.”

“No, this time Sean Shelby contacted me and asked if I was healthy, and asked when I wanted to fight again,” added Miller, when asked if he asked the UFC specifically for a bout in Atlanta. “I told him ASAP. I was ready to go. So, he told me there was a show going on in the greater Atlanta area on January 15th. So I was like perfect.”

Miller (photo via UFC.com)

Miller is coming off a unanimous decision win over Andy Ogle in October, while Sicilia scored a memorable stoppage win over Godofredo “Pepey” Castro in his last outing, which took place in November.

“I haven’t looked at too much video, or researched him yet, I was planning to get to that next week or the week after,” said Miller, when asked for his assessment of the heavy handed Sicilia. “I did see his fight with the guy “Pepey” that he brutally knocked out in Brazil. Yeah, I mean, that’s certainly something that I’ll look out for, is his power.”

While Sicilia has showcased considerable stopping power since he arrived in the UFC, the 5’8 tall fighter will have to negate the reach advantage of the 6’1 Miller at UFN 35. It will also be interesting to see how Sicilia fairs against “Magrinho”, if the BJJ Black Belt is able to take him to the mat.

“I think that’s going to be key in pretty much all of my fights; using the attributes that I do have, the length and the reach,” said Miller. “If I can get this fight to the ground, then that’s cool too, but if the fight happens to stay on the feet, to avoid that power with my length and my reach.”

It’s also an interesting match-up from an experience perspective. Miller has been competing in the UFC now since 2007, and when he competes on January 15th, it will be his 29th pro bout. Sicilia, meanwhile, joined the UFC in 2012 following a stint on TUF 15 and has 15 pro bouts under his belt.

“I guess it’s another opportunity to showcase my skills,” said Miller, when asked what a win over the 27 year-old could do for his position in the 145 pound division. “If I win impressively, then I think it does something for me, but I don’t think that a win does enough for me. I think that I have to do it in exciting fashion and with a finish.”